How Ohioans Feel About Bail Reform

A large network of organizations, including the ACLU of Ohio and Ohio Conservatives for Bail Reform, released a statewide public opinion poll of voters’ views on criminal justice and the pretrial system, and the results show that a strong majority of Ohioans believe the current system is deeply flawed and are eager to support commonsense bail reform policies.

Key findings include:

• 75% of Ohio voters believe that Ohio’s criminal justice system is in need of reform.
• 77% favor requiring a hearing on release options and conditions in front of a judge within 48 hours of detention.
• 70% believe in reforming cash bail so we can “ensure each and every single Ohioan is treated fairly in the criminal legal system, regardless of skin color and ability to pay.”
• 69% believe in creating a release path for most people to go home on the same day as their arrest if they do not pose a flight risk and are not a threat to anyone else.
• 67% favor “reforming Ohio’s bail system so that release decisions are based on individual circumstances and cases, and not how much money someone has.”